Robert Kalnicky: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: BolingbrookWebsite: http://www.kalnicky.com/Office sought: 98th District RepresentativeAge: 43Family: Wife- Catherine; 3 daughtersOccupation: Executive Director of the Community Service CouncilEducation: BA and MBA from Lewis UniversityCivic involvement: Chairman on the Romeoville Chamber of Commerce Board Vice Chairman of the DuPage Township Republican Organization Served on the Take Back the Night Steering Committee Past coach and board member of the Panthers Sports Club Past secretary of the Bolingbrook Exchange Club Served on the board of the Bolingbrook Information Technology CommissionElected offices held: NoneHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: NoCandidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 My number 1 priority is repealing the 2011 tax increase. Illinois Policy Institute reports that as a result of this increase, Illinois has lost 60,000 jobs. Illinois families and business are fleeing to states with lower taxes, and Illinois must be able to compete, otherwise we'll continue to experience economic decline and increased unemployment.Key Issue 2 Illinois' failure to stick to a common-sense budget is destroying our state. The Comptroller's office released a report stating that we have an $8.5 billion backlog, we have the worst credit rating in the country, and the largest state deficit per capita. It's important that we rein in out-of-control spending and leaving our children with hundreds of billions of dollars in unfunded liabilities.Key Issue 3 In Illinois, our unfunded pension liability and healthcare liability is over $100 billion, and is the worst in the nation. It's important that we make fundamental changes that are fair regarding pensions, but it's also important that we follow through on the commitments we made to state workers in providing benefits that they earned. The current system is unsustainable, and changes need to be implemented moving forward that Illinois' taxpayers can afford.Questions Answers What can you do specifically to help the economy in your district? What is your view of the tax breaks granted to companies like Motorola Mobility, Navistar and Sears? For incumbents, how did you vote on the Sears plan in this fall's veto session?I support the repeal of both the personal and the corporate income tax increase that were passed last year. Some argue that big companies use their political connections to seek tax relief, but I appreciate that these major employers are doing what they can to lower their cost of business. Unfortunately, small businesses don't typically have these same connections and therefore, are not receiving the same consideration. Illinois needs major employers and the jobs they provide -- but we also need to create a business environment where small business can flourish and create jobs as well.Do you favor limiting how much money party leaders can give candidates during a general election? If elected, do you plan to vote for the current leader of your caucus' Why or why not?Currently, money and power in Illinois is held by a few who have overseen our economic destruction. Elected officials remain accountable to their legislative and party leaders, and not to the districts and constituents they represent. The new campaign finance reform law does nothing to alter this dynamic, but rather encourages it. Our leaders should be required to adhere to the same laws set for special companies. Our residents should experience the same access to their elected officials regardless of their income or political connections. I cannot commit to voting one way or another at this time in regards to a caucus leader. I'll have to cross that bridge when I come to it.How, specifically, would you cut the budget? What does Illinois need to do to fix its status as a "deadbeat state?" How have you or will you vote on future gambling bills' What is your view of slots at racetracks' Casino expansion?When we make cuts, we need to go beyond just one-time spending cuts. It's important that we audit where the bulk of our tax dollars are being spent and allocate a sufficient amount of our tax dollars based on a real-life fiscal outlook. Some of the areas that must be looked at for efficiency are the public pension system, Medicaid, transportation infrastructure, and K-12 education. Organizations such as the Dept of Commerce and Economic Opportunity monopolize funds that it does not need. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois has lost one taxpayer every 10 minutes for the last 15 years. The destructive policies in Illinois has cost the state over 900,000 and $26 billion in projected revenue. With the current policies in place, Illinois becomes a more difficult place to live and work and raise a family. The best thing we can do for our economic future is to attract people and businesses to the state, not detract.What do you specifically support to deal with the state's pension gap? Would you vote for House Republican Leader Tom Cross's three-tier pension plan? Why or why not?State Senate Bill 512 is a great place to start in dealing with our pension gap. State workers and retirees deserve nothing less than for Illinois to keep the commitments that were made to them for benefits that have been earned, but substantial changes need to be made as we move forward. A restructuring of the current pension system is the only way to fully fund pensions and provide benefits packages for state employees that are fair to them and to the taxpayers that subsidize them.Should gay marriage be legalized? Should Illinois define life as beginning at conception as others have? How would you vote on a concealed carry firearm plan? Should the death penalty be reinstated?I view marriage between one man and one woman as a unique and ideal situation for a family and should be treated as such.That is why I support the DOMA statute.I believe that life begins at conception, but am not certain that passing a law that is contradictory to the federal law, Roe v. Wade, would accomplish anything significant. I am a strong supporter of the Parental Notification Law that the Illinois General Assembly passed overwhelmingly in 1995, and would call on Illinois AG Lisa Madigan to begin to enforce this law. Illinois remains the only state that does not afford its law-abiding citizens the right to carry a weapon. Illinois should follow the example of the other 49 states, pass right to carry legislation and uphold the Second Amendment rights of Illinois residents. I support reinstating the death penalty, with discretion given to judges, juries, and prosecutors.